It is named after the River Smestow, to which it is very close, although the school grounds are actually bordered by the Finchfield Brook and the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal.

The school became a specialist Sports college, and was presented with ARTSMARK (alongside the previously awarded SPORTSMARK) in 2004 for outstanding success in Drama & the Arts.

Smestow has a wide variety of sporting facilities including a gymnasium, swimming pool, PE hall, four separate changing rooms, a fitness suite/gym, a small dance/aerobics area (also used for drama room) a set of tennis courts and two large playing fields as well as the new sports hall.

In February 2014 the school converted to academy status, and became part of the University of Wolverhampton Multi-Academy Trust.

[4] The three roundels in the arms are of a special type, with a distinctive wavy pattern, known in Heraldry as fountains.